Sprat or Juvenile Herring?

[Wreckingball76]

I was down SSP yesterday afternoon in the rain. Fished of the SE corner just with small Sabiki's. I was catching bucket loads of small oily Sprat like fish from 2 to 7 inches long. Initially I though they where Sprat, but after a closer look I think they might be juvenile Herring?



Sprat, Shad, Herring, Sardine, etc are all difficult to tell apart at that stage. Can any one show me the key differences? Or is Sprat used as a colloquial term for all juvenile foraging fish? Sprat would appear to be a species of its own when I've looked into it. Any help would be appreciated. Cheers

Also used the wrong frigging Lure Card, didn't notice till I got in and looked at the pictures! DOH!

[phill_itofish]

I think the mouth is the answer here, your fish appears to have an upturned mouth, this would suggest your initial id was correct. Looks like a sprat to me. I could do with one of those if im going to catch the boys at the top ;-)

[Thunderpants]

Herring have upturned mouths too Phill. Sprats and herrings are almost identical looking so are very difficult to tell apart visually but the main ways you can are...

1. size (sprats only grow to 16cm but herring can grow to over 30cm)
2. the position of the pelvic fin (in line with the dorsal on a sprat, further back on a herring)
3. The belly scales (pointed keel scales on a sprat feel prickly if you run your finger along them).


In your fist pic Si the front of the pelvic fin looks like it starts about half way along the dorsal fin so I think it could be small herring.

[phill_itofish]

Good info Mike

European Sprat | Britishseafishing.co.uk

Herring | Britishseafishing.co.uk

Have a look here Si and see what you think

[Thunderpants]

Those links say herring have larger scales that are easily detached from the body which fits Si's pics too.

When you catch them an easy way to tell is to run your finger along the fish's belly. If it feels smooth it's a herring, if it's rough it's a sprat.

[phill_itofish]

Those links say herring have larger scales that are easily detached from the body which fits Si's pics too.

When you catch them an easy way to tell is to run your finger along the fish's belly. If it feels smooth it's a herring, if it's rough it's a sprat.

I think your probably right mate, i'll be sure to check for roughness when i get mine for the lure challenge

[Uncle_Filthster]

As Mike has said, juvenile herring